New Music Report: Expert Picks - Week of January 22nd

posted by Nicole Mastrogiannis, James Dinh & Isha Thorpe -

Jan 21, 2018

There has been a lot of great new music released over the last few weeks. You can find out what was released this weekend in our New Music Report, but take a look at what we've been listening to lately. Our editors Nicole and Isha have shared some of their Expert Picks for the week. Check it out below.

Nicole's Picks:

Jorja Smith featuring Stormzy - "Let Me Down"

You know you're obsessed with a song when you cannot stop listening to it ... and I can't stop listening to Jorja Smith's "Let Me Down." Jorja is on everybody's lists of artists to keep your eye on this year, and I whole heartedly agree. Last year, she was featured onDrake's More Lifemixtape ("Get It Together"), and the British singer/songwrtier is kicking off 2018 with this gorgeous single featuring grime/hip hop artist Stormzy. I don't know what I love more about this song, Jorja's beautiful voice or the heartbreaking lyrics. Over emotional piano riffs and slow rhythm, Jorja sings in the bridge, "Yeah, I tried, but I just can't give you up/Wonder why is it that I'm not good enough?/Some kind of hold over me/I've got you to let me down."

Jorja has said "Let Me Down" is about "meaning very little to someone but being okay with that even though it hurts," and that she was in the mindset of writing a Bondtheme song while she was creating this track. YES, Jorja ... I wouldn't mind a Bond theme song from you. Especially with this cinematic music video:

Mat Kearney - "Kings & Queens"

I'm so ready for Mat Kearneyto release his new album, because every song he's released so far has been awesome ... including this new one "Kings & Queens." Mat wrote this song with Judah & The Lion's Judah Akers at Mat's home studio, and the humble idea behind the track is that you only need that one special person beside you to feel like "Kings & Queens." Aw. Mat sings in the chorus, "We don't need no jet plane feel like we can fly/We don't need no gold chain just to watch it shine/Twenty four carat lies we don't got the time/We'll be Kings & Queens in our own mind."

In a video posted toMat's Twitter, he explained of the track, "I wrote this song in this studio on this piano with my buddy Judah Akers from the band Judah & the Lion. He sat at this piano and started playing these chords, and he's like, 'man, I have this melody.'" He added, "We started singing, and we came up with this title, 'Kings & Queens in our own mind.'"

James' Picks:

Tinashe featuring Offset - "No Drama"

Just as she teased, Tinashe has unleashedone of her three new tracks and the release sees her exploring her urban roots with the help of Offset ofMigoson the swag-filled cut song called "No Drama.” At almost three-and-half-minutes, the song, which dropped on Thursday (January 18), is set to appear on her sophomore effort, JoyRide, and hears the budding star singing about the lavish lifestyle of a pop star as well as her urge to steer clear of any drama. Produced by StarGate, the brooding cut fits well into the trap-filled climate and, truth be told, it's quite refreshing to see the star return to her urban roots after the release of "Flame." Offset's appearance on the track also offers some buzz, particularly with his name at thetop of most hip-hop blogs. Despite leaking a day before the track was released, Tinashe will still appear on TRLon Friday to premiere the video for the track.

Cashmere Cat featuring Major Lazer & Tory Lanez - "Miss You"

Two of music's biggest producers, Major Lazer andCashmere Cat, have joined forces for a mega-collab alongside Tory Lanez and the three-minute cut is aligned with all of their specialties. Co-written byEd Sheeran and Benny Blanco, the track is ready for the dance floors and hears Swavey singing about all the time that took to obtain a lover. “I AM jumping up and down in bed because miss you is out now,” tweeted Cashmere. “a very most special thank you to benny blanco, ed sheeran and palmistry for working on this song with us !!!!!” "Miss You" is the latest of Tory’s Cashmere Cat collaborations after the likes ofSelena Gomez(“Trust Nobody”) and2 Chainz (“Throw Myself a Party”).

Isha's Picks:

Keith Sweat – “All The Ways” featuring K-CI

Keith Sweat is back at it again! The R&B veteran is giving us all the feels with his brand new single called "How Many Ways" featuringK-CI fromJodeci. As Sweat put it on social media, "How Many Ways" is "for the lovers." Hearing his and K-CI's voices together on the sensual beat, you won't be able to stop grooving and singing along with them. This is that real music for the grown and sexy crowd. What y'all youngins' know about this? "How many ways, do I have to show you? How much I love you," the iHeartRadio's "The Sweat Hotel" personality sings on the chorus. "And how many ways do I have to say, I'll always be there for you."

Dave East – "I Found Keisha"

Dave East’s P2mixtape is full of heat from beginning to end. Hearing one song after the other on the project, the MC shows out with his spitting skills. East knows he’s as real as they come and he’s making sure you know this, too. Even though all of the tracks on P2are everything, we have to make “I Found Keisha” one of our expert picks. For all of those longtime fans of East, we know his Kairi Chanel track “Keisha” and the story behind it. This chick that East met ended up robbing him blind and he’s been out for revenge ever since. On “I Found Keisha,” we finally learn how the rapper gets his payback… and it’s gritty.